Jakob Söderqvist Steps Up to Senior Elite at the European Championships After U23 World Title Triumph

Fresh off his World Championship gold medal in the U23 time trial in Kigali, Swedish rising star Jakob Söderqvist has had a change of heart — and will now line up at the European Championships to test himself against the world’s best in the men’s senior elite category.

The final Swedish roster for the European Championships, held in southeastern France from October 1–5, has now been confirmed, and Söderqvist is among the headliners. Originally planning to end his season after his world title, the 21-year-old Lidl-Trek rider is extending his campaign to push his limits at the elite level.

“Jakob dreamed of becoming U23 world champion — and he did it after a fantastic race,” said national team captain Lucas Persson. “Now he wants to extend his time trial season and measure himself against the best in the world. The competition will be tough, but he’s dreaming of the podium. It’s going to be exciting to see what he can do.”

⏱️ A Perfect Course for Söderqvist’s Strengths

The men’s elite time trial covers 24 km from Loriol-sur-Drôme to Étoile-sur-Rhône, featuring 214 meters of elevation gain — a profile that should suit Söderqvist’s powerful, sustained riding style.

The European Championships follow closely on the heels of the Worlds, and many of cycling’s biggest names will be on the start line. Belgian Remco Evenepoel, the dominant force in elite time trials, headlines the field, alongside Italian powerhouse Filippo Ganna, Swiss specialists, both British contenders, Portugal’s João Almeida, and Söderqvist’s Lidl-Trek teammate Mads Pedersen. Another major threat is Belgian rising star Alec Segaert.

The official start list will be published on Tuesday — updates will be available on the UEC European Championships page and ProCyclingStats.

🇸🇪 Full Swedish Lineup for the European Championships

Söderqvist isn’t the only Swedish rider returning to action. Fellow Worlds standouts Stina Kagevi and Vilgot Reinhold will also compete in both the time trial and the road race. Meanwhile, in the women’s elite road race, Caroline Andersson — who finished 11th at the World Championships — will be joined by Julia Borgström, giving Sweden a strong two-rider lineup.

With confidence high after a historic U23 world title, Jakob Söderqvist’s elite debut is one of the most anticipated Swedish stories of the European Championships. Whether he can challenge the sport’s biggest stars remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: the next chapter of Swedish cycling’s bright future begins this week in France.